Second Harvey Relief Distributions Announced — $28.9 Million More

HOUSTON, TX — Officials from Harris County and the city of Houston announced their second round of Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund distributions on Wednesday, and $28.9 million will be doled out to 90 local non-profit organizations. The fund founded by Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Ed Emmett during the hurricane's approach brought in more than $100 million, and now a little more than one-third has been pinpointed.

In a release on Wednesday morning, it states the fund was designed to "channel the exceptional generosity and compassion of Houston and Harris County area residents — as well as companies, foundations and individuals from across the United States — into tangible ways to help their neighbors in need as soon as possible.

"Bouncing back from disaster is hard work for flood victims trying to repair homes, pay for temporary housing, replace damaged personal belongings and start their lives over," Judge Emmett said. "So, the administrators of the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund are working hard to meet their needs. It’s a process that is making a difference."

The city and county stated this round of donations was released as a mixture of the sense of urgency needed by the affected families and the accountability to be transparent to the public. Today’s distribution was guided by a study using FEMA data and call data from the city’s 2-1-1 help line as a way to confirm where and what the city and county’s greatest personal flood recovery needs are. It was conducted by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University.

"I am heartened to see that round two of the distribution of donations from so many kind donors is based on data about needs in the community and will boost the well-being of the entire Houston area with direct financial aid and services that government simply cannot supply," Turner said.

"The relief fund will never cease honing its effectiveness and speed as the distribution of funds continues to aid seniors, children and everyone else in need. The reach of this round’s distribution is deep and will improve the lives of many in our city. Our work will continue as we identify the best and most meaningful ways to distribute the funds over the next months."

The 90 non-profit organizations selected are trusted, experienced groups with the proven ability to identify clients and their needs and then assist them directly.Direct funding and services to be provided by the non-profit recipients include but are not limited to:

• Assistance with paying for food, clothing, rent, mortgage payments and utilities
• Home repairs
• Replacement of flood-damaged furniture and appliances for those who did not have flood insurance.
• Case management for elderly, disabled, and other individuals who need help applying for assistance and developing a recovery plan.
• Trauma/crisis intervention
• Job training and employment services
• Grants for families with children

Halfway through its 90-day service period, the first round of disbursements -- $7.5 million to 28 organizations — has quickly lifted many lives:

• 75,884 households have received basic items such as food, clothing and hygiene products
• 3,553 households have received case management services
• 2,464 households have received direct financial assistance
• 1,123 households received home repair or housing services
• 432 households have received furniture

A list of non-profit organizations in today’s distribution of funds, the amount each receives, and the services and aid is available at these groups.

See ghcf.org for more information about this disbursement. The funding is expected to support these organizations’ efforts over the next 120 days.

Flood victims who have not been in direct contact with the non-profits receiving Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund grants should call 2-1-1 for assistance.

In this aerial photo, a neighborhood near Addicks Reservoir are flooded by rain from Tropical Storm Harvey Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Houston. Harvey set a record for rainfall from a tropical system in the continental U.S., dropping 51.88 inches just outside Houston, an eighth of an inch behind the U.S. record set in Hawaii in 1950. Parts of Houston may be flooded for another month. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)